Buoyant Arsenal ready to finish Villarreal

LONDON: Arsene Wenger can be excused a little smugness as he prepares his Arsenal side for Wednesday's Champions League quarterfinal second leg at home to Villarreal as a bleak-looking season has suddenly burst into bloom.

Last week's 1-1 draw in Spain makes Arsenal favorites to progress to a semifinal against either holders Manchester United or Porto while on Saturday they face Chelsea in the last four of the FA Cup at Wembley.

Five consecutive Premier League wins have also cemented the Gunners in fourth place in the league after it had looked for most of the season that their place among the top four was under threat.